A new prime time chat show hosted by Bradley Walsh is expected to air on ITV in just a few months – and producers reckon it could quickly become one of the biggest shows on the box.
Newspaper reports claim a full series of It’s Showtime is planned for early next year and will follow a similar format to The Jonathan Ross Show.
A pilot of the show – set to include celebrity guests, live music and games involving the audience – is expected to be filmed before Christmas, according to The Sun.
An unnamed source told the newspaper telly bosses believe “it was about time” the popular host of The Chase and star of Doctor Who bagged his own chat show.
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And it seems hopes are extremely high for a blockbuster performance from It’s Showtime – with predictions it could eclipse ITV’s biggest light entertainment offerings.
“It is early days but if it goes down well it could be in the running to replace Saturday Night Takeaway as ITV’s top entertainment show,” the source is quoted as saying.
Production company Hungry Bear Media, who are behind viewer favourites such as Michael McIntyre’s Big Show and All Round to Mrs Brown’s, will make the show.
Bradley, 58, made a callout about the then untitled project to fans on social media just a few weeks ago.
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Sharing a casting call for larger than life personalities with his 565,000 Instagram followers, he encouraged willing participants to get involved with his new programme.
The post read: “We are looking for fun, confident big characters and groups of friends and families to come and take part in a brand new entertainment chat show pilot for ITV.
“If you are up for getting involved in our studio games and challenges alongside our brilliant celebrity guests – get in touch!”
Despite being one of the most in demand stars on British TV – and thought to be one of its top earners, rumoured to be pulling in nearly £5million a year – Bradders recently revealed he has to be on his toes to manage all of his filming commitments.
He told Digital Spy that producers on both Doctor Who and The Chase “plate-spin between the two of them.”
“That’s an ongoing contract I have with ITV so I have to take care of that,” he said.
“Everyone here at the Beeb, especially [producer] Matt and his team, has been unbelievably accommodating.”
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